Complaint Review: Will Bishop - Riverton Utah

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY A REBUTTAL, IT IS A REPORT! THE LINK TO FILE A REPORT IS BROKEN, BUT THE REBUTTAL BUTTON WORKS, AND I WANT THIS KNOWN!! I received the same scam stating that I had won the USA multi-state lotto $250,000. The check was for $4982.40, and had the exact same numbers on the bottom as previously reported: "098192" :052101106: "0050312367" The account holder was listed as: M.W. Glick, Inc. 12003 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 The letter and check came in a plain yellow medium sized envelope with no return address or postmark. It had a Canadian postage stamp on it. The number in the letter I received is 1-416-897-2754 and had the name James Martin on it. Reverse lookup on that phone number shows it is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I called the number, and was told that I had won a Publisher's Clearing House Magazine Exchange entry that I had made (I REALLY DID ENTER IN THAT DRAWING, so they almost had me!!). I was suspicious though, because of the uncertified notification that I received, and the obvious conflict in the source of the alleged prize - was it Publisher's Clearing House, or was it Mega Lotto Plus? I MEAN COME ON!! I started to ask questions and I was told to deposit the check and call back to make arrangements for delivery of the remainder of the alleged winnings. I asked to speak to a manager and was hung up on. I called back and asked for a manager again. A woman came on the line (I wasn't even put on hold for this 'transfer'!), and she told me to deposit the check and call back. I heard a bird squawking in the background, and a small child saying "mommy, mommy". I asked if this was a business, and said that I heard a child, and was told "Maam, I am next to a window where there are children playing outside on a playground" - this child was clearly at her feet and not in the distance!! I called back again, and said that I have more questions, and was hung up on again. I tried to call back 2 more times and there was no answer anymore. I found information for reporting these types of Canada originating scams to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police task force for fraud on the FDIC's website: http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2007/sa07157.html It says this: To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada, please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows: Mail: Box 686 North Bay, Ontario, Canada P1B 8J8 Web site: www.phonebusters.com Telephone: +1 (888) 495-8501 (toll-free in Canada and the USA) Fax: +1 (888) 654-9426 (toll-free in Canada and the USA) E-mail: [email protected] Advance fee fraud (including Nigerian and lottery letters): [email protected] I've sent in all of the info that I received - Hopefully they are better equipt to catch these types of criminals than our own system! I am so PISSED that they played with my emotions like that!! It would have really been a blessing! I feel terrible for anyone who actually falls victim to this scam. DON'T DO IT!!! They will have you send them money for "taxes and fees" on your winnings, and then their check will bounce because it is NO GOOD! So essentially, you give them your good money for their bad.

I guess Common sense is not so common judging by all the people on here who actually do fall for that scam. OK EVERYONE go to FTC.gov they have a whole section about these and other scams.

If all the warning signs you mentioned in your note are not enough to alert you, let this be your warning. Fake checks like this are used to get your checking account number. When you deposit the check, your account number will be made available to the scammer who is then able to use it for his/her own purposes. Did you honestly think you had won money somewhere and forgotten about it, and the company somehow miraculously tracked you down to let you know they owed you money?! Seriously now...